As a 2008 primary front-runner, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani tanked. But as a 2012 dark horse, he could do surprisingly well.

Its not because Giuliani has shifted; its because the Republican Party has. The 2010 election was less about social conservatism than it was fiscal conservatism, and that aligns with Giulianis socially moderate and fiscally conservative ideology.

There is another promising wind of change blowing Giulianis way, one thats less ideological. This isnt the era of kinder, gentler politicians. This is the age of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie  three politicians whose appeal lives, partly, in their aggressive rhetoric.

But, according to Giuliani, he started the political fad. When explaining Christies appeal to the New York Post, Giuliani said: Whats making him popular is that hes not afraid to be called a bully. I used to be proud to be called a bully, and Christie would call me and tell me, Im going to do it just the way you did.' "

Thus, both the national ideology and aesthetics of these political times are more favorable to Giuliani than, perhaps, at any time in his political career.

So whats he been up to?

Leg work:

While Giuliani maintained his visibility at a national level this year through frequent appearances on cable political shows, he also showed the GOP that he was willing to do the less glamorous work of crossing the country on behalf of Republican candidates.

Skeptics often claim that Giulianis political activity is simply good business, since it keeps him relevant. For example, Auburn University shelled out $85,000 earlier this year for a Giuliani speech on leadership  an amount that might be less if he werent flirting with a bid. But that obscures the fact that his success, financially, is a good sign of his continuing appeal, politically.

Rhetoric:

The question for any presidential aspirant is whether he or she is building a broad case for the presidency. At the very least, Giuliani has built a broad one against the current president, slamming Barack Obama on everything from foreign policy to being, well, too New York.

Earlier this year, he questioned the presidents philosophical approach to foreign policy, not to mention his actual record, which hes frequently criticized on missile defense, terrorism and Middle East relationships.

President Obama thinks we can all hold hands, sing songs and have peace symbols. North Korea and Iran are not singing along with the president.

And while Gingrich literally wrote a book, christening the Obama administration a secular-socialist machine, Giuliani has been similarly critical of the presidents economic policy, telling conservative bloggers that Obama is trying to turn the United States into a European social democracy.

Then theres the ironic and primary-friendly charge that Obama has too much of the mayors hometown blood in him.

The president may be suffering from the inability to see the rest of America from having a warped view in New York, Giuliani told ABCs The View last month.

Fire in the belly:

Giuliani has refused several times this year to close the door on a bid. Most recently, he told The Wall Street Journal that its been difficult to give up the dream.

Its always in your mind when youve done something like this, he said.

And its possible that his poor showing in 2008 hasnt done much to diminish his confidence in another bid. Earlier this year, Giuliani told The Washington Post that his failure could have been as simple as bad timing.

You know, I was conflicted about running when I did ... I dont think any Republican could have won in 2008, he said.

That being said, if he did do it again, its not likely hed take any chances and stake the race on Florida, as he did in 2008.

If youre going to run for president and get nominated, you better win Iowa [or] New Hampshire. By then, its probably over. If it isnt over by then, its over by South Carolina, he told the Post.

What lies ahead:

In the end, its perhaps smartest to appeal to a former New York state representative, Guy Molinari, who once told reporters of Giuliani: Rudy is Rudy. Rudy is either going to run or not based on how he feels. Hes not a guy who looks at statistics and worries about the fact that ... maybe he could win, maybe he cant win.

And that makes him a wildcard, a dark horse  and a worthy figure to watch in 2012.

No, of course not. He has no chance of winning the nomination, and even if he did, he would just quit in the middle of the race anyway because he loves New York too much and doesn’t really want to spend all of his time in Washington.

5
posted on 12/22/2010 7:57:13 AM PST
by jpl
(Our forebears really gave their lives so we could be groped by bureaucratic retards at the airport?)

I stopped listening to Hannity because of his dishonorable pant discharge over Rudy.

I LIKE Rudy...he was the best thing for NYC that came along in around 50 years....

....but he is NOT, repeat NOT presidential timber. His methods are facist and anti-individual. NYC at the time needed a facist....and seeing as how the dims had made NYC a cross between Marxism and Facism already, it was no great shakes to have him clean the city in his own inimitable style.

He is not right for America....period. Let him run for either Putzhead Schumers or Gillibrands seat in the Senate...he can only improve the senate in comparison to those two pear-shaped loosers.....

I will not vote for Rudy for president ...period...and I will do what I can to defeat him for that position.

The author of the piece is either being disingenuous, or has absolutely no understanding of the Republican primary.

Day in, day out, flaming pro-abort pro-sodomy Giuliani will get the same 3% outside of the NE and Florida as he did in 2008. Actually, he’ll get less if Gingrich and/or Bolton are in. Both are just as tough on foreign policy, have the credentials, and are smart, without the Giuliani baggage (Gingrich has some) and social liberalism.

Giuiliani may offer more to the country in a security related cabinet position or other similar post.

15
posted on 12/22/2010 8:31:37 AM PST
by Dr. Sivana
(There is no salvation in politics)

Hopefully Conservatives and Republicans will be able to keep things in perspective in 2012.

The complaints and misgivings we may have about any of the 2008 candidates, or possible candidates in 2012, pale in comparison with what we have in the White House today.

The shortcomings of the worst republican candidate are miniscule when we look at the ongoing destruction of the nation taking place under Obama and his socialist, racist Czars and cabinet.

Of course we all want the perfect social and fiscal conservative to replace Obama. But isn’t in our best interest to consider compromise rather than face 4 more years of the Obama onslaught against the Constitution and middle America?

Of course it is.

A win by any of the likely republican candidates will be a giant step forward forward for freedom and preservation of the nation.

On the list of our top 100 objectives, the first 99 must be to boot Obama out of the White House. Once that is accomplished we can negotiate the details.

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